Apparatus for firing powder



Jan. 23, R945. A. GROTH ETAL APPARATUS FOR FIRING POWDER Filed Sept. 20, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOM M q- WW q HZZOE/V'kd Jan. 23, R945. A. GROTH ETAL APPARATUS FOR FIRING POWDER Filed Sept. 20, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 INVENTOR-S Patented Jan. 23, 1945 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR Alfred Grotli and Henry FIRING POWDER 1. Hammer, Milwaukee,

Wis., assignors to Badger Carton Co., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application September 20, 1943, Serial No. 503,016

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apiaratus for firing powder.

In modern warfare it is frequently advan- ;ageous for one side to attract enemy fire or to nislead enemy reconnaissance planes by causing 6 he explosion of powder charges in locations sub- :tantially remote from their real artillery posiions. Through the above mentioned ruse enemy iirplanes and artillery are caused to drop bombs powder charges are brought into contact with a novel heating element arranged to be particularly efl'ective-under all conditions and to quickly transmit the heat to the surface of the element.

A further object of the'invention is to provide a powder firing apparatus which is of very simple construction, is automatic and eflicient in operation, is strong and durable, is inexpensive to manufacture, and is well adapted for the purind fire shells in erroneous locations, thus wast- 1 poses set forth. ng the same. The position of the enemy artillery With the above and other objects in view the nay thus be exposed and the real artillery of invention consists of the improved powder firing he side employing the ruse may then effectively apparatus and its parts and combinations as set pen fire on the opposition. The ruse of igniting forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof. ham charges from false locations is especially In the accompanying drawings in which the frective at night when the flashes from the exsame reference characters indicate the same parts loding powder are readily visible. The imin all of the views: 'roved powder exploding device may be installed Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the 1 brush or hidden locations so that the real charimproved powder firing apparatus showing a cter cf the devices will be effectively concealed. portable detachable magazine mounted thereon, t the devices are used in an open area, however, with portions of the latter broken away and in aid devices may be set up adjacent to camousection; aged sham field pieces to simulate the effect oi Fig. 2 is a p an view of the powder firing apeal artillery. paratus with the magazine removed With the above in mind it is a general object 2 Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view f the present invention to provide a relatively mall compact and inexpensive apparatus for firig powder, the apparatus being automatic, foolroof, susceptible of being operated from a reiote point, and complete in itself.

A further object of the invention is to provide device for firing various types and characters f powder charges to simulate the fire from aricus standard types of field pieces.

A further object of the invention is to provide device of the class described in which the firing ite may be selectively varied to simulate the ring rate of a particular known type of field lece.

A further object of the invention is to provide powder firing apparatus which is readily portole and of a size to occupy little shipping space, ud wherein the value of the apparatus, if deroyed, is small.

A further object of the invention is to provide powder firing apparatus equipped with a readily emovable, interchangeable, and portable magane which hclds a large number of powder misles in a manner so that when the same is as- :mbled with the powder firing apparatus the issiles will feed steadily and without interrupon, and without jarring or bumping, to a timed :livery member in the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide 30 zine with portions being broken away to show structural details, said view being taken on line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the powder pellet delivering elevator in a raised position;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of the base of-the mortar tube and the heating element incorporated therein; and

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram for the apparatus.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings it will appear that the numeral l0 indicates a box-like casing rigidly mounted upon the rear end portion of a flat horizontal base II. The connection between the casing l0 and the base I I is effected by means of a plurality of bolts I! which carry rubber washers I3 as well as large rubber washers or pads H which are interposed between adjacent surfaces of the casing and base in order to absorb vibrations during the operation of the apparatus. The front of the casing I0 is provided with an upwardly extending transverse wall |5 of a substantial height having therein a properly located missile discharge opening it. The upper rear portion of the casing III powder firing apparatus in which successive carries a relatively low transverse rail l1 and between the upper front I! and rail ii there are upper side members I 3 which are curved and reduced in height toward their rear ends. The major portion of the box-like casing is closed by a removable top cover I! positioned on ledges 20. Said cover it has fixed to its under surface a transverse bar 2| for the purpose of engaging and maintaining in position a battery 22 housed within the casing I 0.

Mounted on the front 'wall l of the casing It in registration with the missile discharge opening it is an open guide spout 23 which has amxed thereto a forwardly directed slightly downwardly angled trough 24. I

Rigidly mounted on the forward end portion of the base is a socket 25 whose axis is inclined slightly from vertical. This socket removably receives the lower end of a mortar tube 26. The mortar tube is carried so that its axis is slightly forwardly inclined from vertical and its open upper end is adjacent the free end of the trough provided with a plurality of inclined runways which are staggered and at different levels. A loading opening 4| is formed in the upper righthand corner portion of the rear wall of the magazine (see Fig. 5). The magazine is interiorly divided by a central vertical partition 42. The first runway, designated by the numeral 43, is positioned within one side' of the magazine and registers with the opening 4| and slopes down to a point below the top of the forward end of the magazine. At the forward end of the magazine there is a missile directing block 44 and a centrally located opening 45 in a horizontal plane. Spherical missiles, which travel down the runway 43, strike the block 44 and drop through the opening 45 into a second runway 45 staggered on the opposite side of the interior of the magazine relative to the first runway. There is a directing block 49 in the end of said runway 43. The second runway is rearwardly downwardly directed and at the rear of the magazine there is a missile 24 so that missiles gravitated along the trough:

will drop into the open upper end of the mortar tube. Outstanding fixed pins 21 at the end of the mortar tube and on the remote side thereof limit the feed movement of missiles and compel the same to drop into the bore of the tube 26 where the same ultimately reach the curved lower end of said tube. The base of said mortar tube is provided with a removable and replaceable screw threaded cap 28, shown in detail in Fig. 7 and equipped with a novel form of electrical heating element. The base cap 28 is metal and has embedded therein an electrical terminal 29 to which is afllxed an end of a circuit wire 30. A central terminal pin 3| also extends into the cap and has removably attached to its outer end another circuit wire 32. The pin 3| is suitably encased in insulating material and its outer end is connected to heating filaments 33 which are embedded in a cake of lava 34 confined within a cup-like enclosure 35. The lava is an electrical insulator but a conductor of heat and therefore transmits the heat from the filaments 33 to the surface of the cap very rapidly and effectively. The mortar tube 26 is additionally provided with a drain opening 35 which extends from the exterior of the unit to the base portion of the concave end of the mortar tube shown. This drain opening permits the discharge of moisture and condensation from the mortar tube.

A magazine of relatively great capacity, but removable, interchangeable and portable, is indicated generally by the numeral 31. The magazine is a box-like enclosure having a forwardly downwardly inclined closed top. The bottom of the magazine is open. The magazine is of a width to fit between the curved upper side members l8 of the main casing l0 with its front wall in abutment with the inner face of the transverse front wall l5 of the main casing. The magazine is properly located in the position mentioned, as shown in Fig. 1. by means of a rearwardly projecting pin 38 on the wall i5, which engages ah opening therefor in the front wall of the magazine. The magazine is of greater length than and rearwardly overhangs the main casing l0, and its hollow bottom portion receives the rear transverse rail ll of the main casing. Properly'located within the bottom portion of the magazine is a transverse bar 39 which engages the rail l1, and to effect rigid securement pf the magazine to the main casing ID a bolt 40 is passed through registering apertures in the rail i1 and bar 39. The interior of the magazine is directing block 50 and also, centrally located with respect to the floor of said runway, there is a drop opening 5| through which spherical missiles drop into the upper end of a third runway 41 and into contact with a directing block 52. The last runway extends forwardly downwardly below the first-mentioned runway 43. The lower end of the last runway 41 communicates with the previously mentioned missile discharge opening it in the upper front wall of the main casing Ill. It should be noted that the end portions of the central partition 42 are provided with openings or cut-outs 53 and 54 to permit lateral passage of missiles from one runway to another. In actual practice it is proposed that the magazine, and the inclined runways thereof, be completely loaded with spherical missiles and as the forwardmost missiles are discharged the remaining missiles will roll and gravitate forwardly along the several inclined runways. The capacity of the magazine depends on the size of the missiles and the length of the runways but the magazine is designed to hold about thirty-six missiles of a standard size.

As was previously mentioned the main casing l0 houses a. storage battery 22. In actual practice it may be desirable to utilize several 9-volt batteries connected in parallel. Proper terminals of the battery or batteries have extended therefrom circuit wires 55 and 56. The circuit wires 55 and 56 connect respectively with the previously mentioned circuit wires 30 and 32 which extend to and energize the heating element 33 in the base of the mortar tube. The circuit referred to includes a solenoid operated switch 51.

An electric motor 58 is also housed within the main casing Ill. The motors terminals have connected thereto circuit wires 53 and 50 which are tapped off of the circuit wires 55' and 56. Within the main casing III there is a relay and solenoid unit 5| for the purpose of electrically controlling and actuating the switch 51 previously mentioned. The relay and solenoid unit is, however, included in a second remote control electrical circuit comprising wires 52 and 53. The remote control circuit is preferably elongated and extends a considerable distance away from the apparatus so that the powder firing apparatus may be operated and controlled from a desired point many yards distant from the apparatus. The remote control circuit includes an energizing battery 54 and a switch 65. Obviously when the switch 55 is operated at a remote point the remote control circuit will be momentarily closed andthe relay solenoid unit will be energized to cause a closing of the switch in the motor-heating element circuit. This will cause operation of the electric motor 58 for a purpose hereinafter to be described and will cause energization of the heating element 33. When cessation of the operation of the apparatus is desired an operation of the switch 65 will again energize the relay solenoid unit to cause a reverse or opening movement of the main switch 51 to break the motorheating element circuit.

Mounted on a gear reduction box 68 adjacent the motor 58 is a shaft 6'! carrying fast thereon a disk 68. Motion, at a desired speed, is thereby transmitted from the drive shaft of the motor to the shaft 61 by conventional reduction gearing housed within the box 66. One end portion of a crank 69 is pivotally carried by the disk 68. The outer angled end portion of the crank 69 extends exteriorly through a slotted open-- ing 10 in the front wall of the main casing ,lii-

and exteriorly of the casing. Said end portion of the crank is aflixed to a vertically reciprocatable plate H. The plate II has an opening therein H (Fig. 1) which in the down position of the crank 69 registers with the missile discharge opening H5 in the upper extended front wall l5 of the main casing Ill. The reciprocating plate 1| also carries a flanged elevator 12 which in the down position of the crank 69 assumes a position slightly below the lower margin of the missile discharge opening l6 as best shown in Fig. 1. It should be observed that when the elevator plate H is in its lower position the forward-most spherical missile from the magazine 31 rests on the elevator 12 and abuts against the inner end of the trough 24 which is at a higher elevation. When the crank 69 reciprocates upwardly to raise the elevator plate and elevator, this act will elevate the missile resting thereon to an extent to dislodge it from the position illustrated in Fig. 1 so that it may )e pushed into and gravitate down the trough M in the manner shown in Fig. 6. The upward novement of the elevator plate serves to block off .he missile discharge opening l6 to retain withn the magazine the rearwardly disposed mis- :iles.

Powder filled spherical missiles of the type idapted to be fired by the improved apparatus ire shown in broken lines in Figs. 1, 5 and 6 Llld are indicated by the numeral 13. The shells f said missiles are formed of a readily inflamriable nitro-cellulosic material such as Cellulod .nd the shells have packed therein a batch ofuitable ignitible powder. The missiles may be f any desired size within certain limitations. or diflferent uses and purposes the types of pow- .er charges in the missiles may be varied to obain flashes, smoke or explosions of desired colrs and appearances for the simulation of the tring effect of specific types of guns and artilary pieces. It is, of course, obvious that a numer of missile filled magazines may be interhangeably used with a single main casing I0. Then one magazine becomes exhausted of its misies it may be removed and be replaced by a new iaded magazine.

In Fig. 1 there is illustrated a hood l4 mount- 1 over the missile discharge op-"nine l6 and 1e entrance to the trough 24. This protective evice, which is optional, prevents the missiles -om being exposed to weather before being moved v the elevator to gravitate down the trough.

Ill

The shapeof the bore of the mortar tube it insures the gravitation of missiles onto the central hot spot of the heating element lava cake 3|.

The improved powder firing apparatus is compact and readily portable. The apparatus is intended for warfare use for the purpose of attracting enemy fire toward erroneous locations and to mislead enemyreconnaissance aircraft. In practical use one or more of the apparatuses may be set up and concealed in desired locations remote from the real positions of the side utilizing the same. The apparatuses are susceptible of controlled automatic operation for a desired period of time and from a point remote from where the apparatuses are installed. It is a practice in modern warfare for one army to attempt to mislead the enemy as to the strength, number and location of its heavy artillery and anti-aircraft guns. This is accomplished by installing sham artillery pieces and guns in certain erroneous locations. The present invention permits the furtherance of this sham because the improved powder firing apparatuses may be strapped or secured under the fake guns or artillery pieces. Thus, when the apparatuses are set into operation andthe successive missiles are ignited, the sham guns will have a very great realistic appearance and effect.

From the description thus far given the operation of the improved powder firing apparatus is no doubt obvious. After the device is set up in a desired location, a missile filled magazine 31 is mounted on the main casing III in the manner previously described. From a remote control station the main switch is manipulated to temporarily close the circuit to the relay solenoid unit and, through the means previously described, the heating unit 33 in the base of the mortar tube will be energized and the motor 58 will be set into operation. Through the vertical reciprocations of the elevator plate H the elevator 12 will dislodge the forwardmost missile 13 and will roll the same onto the trough 24 from whence it will gravitate into the mortar tube and will be ignited and exploded upon contact with the heating unit in the base of the mortar tube. Upon a downward reciprocation of the elevator plate the next missile from the magazine will roll into the forward position shown in Fig. 1 and this missile will then be handled in the manner described so that there will be timed firing of the successive missiles.

The firing or explosion of each missile will produce a flash, and smoke emanating from the open mouth of the mortar tube 26 will simulate the firing effect of a real gun or field piece. As previously mentioned the type and color of the powder within a missile will produce the desired efiect as to flash and smoke for the simulation of any given gun or field piece whether it be an anti-aircraft gun, a howitzer, or a field or artillery piece. Different types of guns and field pieces fire at different rates of speed and for this purpose the speed of operation of the electric motor 58 may be regulated, as by a conventional rheostat.

The apparatus is very inexpensive and should it be destroyed its loss will be negligible. All parts of the apparatus are readily accessible for repairs and replacements. As previously noted, the magazine is quickly and easily mounted on and removed from the main casing ill. The top of the main casing is closed by a removable cover I9 which, when removed, exposes the interior of the main casing for access to the bat- 4- teries, wires, motor and other instrumentalitiee.

The mortar tube 2' is readily removable from its supporting socket II for cleaning. repairs and replacement. The base cap 28 oi the mortar in which the novel heating unit is incorporated is removable and replaceable.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the improved apparatus for nring powder is of simple and novel construction and is well adapted ior the purposes described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

i. In an apparatus for firing powder, a support, a socket carried by the support, an inclined barrel having its lower end removably mounted in the socket, a removable cap closing the lower end of the barrel, a heating unit incorporated in said cap, said heating unit ineluding a cake of lava and an electrically energized filament embedded in said lava cake, an inclined trough supported adjacent the open end of the barrel, a powder ball magazine having a discharge opening and an inclined runway leading to the discharge opening, and means for delivering powder balls passing through the discharge opening to said trough along which powder balls roll and drop into! said barrel ior engagement with the heating unit and ultimate ignition and explosion.

2. In an apparatus for firing powder, a support, an upwardly, forwardly inclined barrel mounted on the support and having an open upper end and a'closed lower end, a heating unit within the closed lower end of the barrel, an operating mechanism enclosing casing mounted on the support, an inclined trough having its lower end adjacent the open end of the barrel, a powder ball magazine replaceably and removably mounted on the top of the casing and covering the same, said magazine having a forward lower discharge opening and an inclined zigzag runway leading thereto, and means interposed between the trough and said discharge opening for delivering powder balls passing through the discharge opening to said trough along which owder balls roll and drop into said barrel for engagement with the heating unit and ultimate ignition and explosion.

'3. A powder exploding apparatus, comprising, a support, an upwardly, forwardly inclined barrel mounted on the support and having an open upper end and a closed lower end, a heating unit within the closed lower end of the barrel, an operating mechanism enclosing casing mounted on the support, an inclined trough having its lower end adjacent the open end of the barrel, :1 powder ball magazine removably mounted on the casing, said magazine having a rear upper loading opening and a forward lower discharge opening with a series of staggered communicating runways at different levels between said openings, the magazine being adapted to be filled with lines of powder balls which successively gravitate along the inclined runways and through the lower discharge opening, and means interposed between the trough and said discharge opening and connected with the casing housed mechanism for successively delivering powder balls passing through the discharge opening to said trough along which the powder balls roll and drop into said barrel for engagement with the heating unit and ultimate ignition and explosion.

4. A powder exploding. apparatus, comprising, an inclined barrel having an open upper end, a heating unit within the barrel, an inclined troughmpporteda diecenttheopenendoi barrel, a powder ball'magazine chargeopeningspaeedi'romthetroughandan inclined runway leading to the discharge openfor successively receiving ing through the discharge opening, and a vertically reciprocating member ensueable with a crevice lodged powder ball to elevate it onto the trough from whence the ball will gravitate into the barrel for engagement with the heating unit and ultimate ignition and explosion.

5. A power exploding apparatus, comprising, an inclined barrel having an open upper end, a

heating unit within the barrel, an inclined trough having its lower end adjacent the open end oi the barrel, a powder ball magazine having a discharge opening and an inclined runway leading to the discharge opening, said discharge opening being adjacent to but below the level of the upper end of the trough, and a vertically reciprocatable elevator interposed between the upper end of the trough and said discharge opening for successivelv elevating and depositing powder balls passed through the discharge opening onto the trough along which the balls roll and drop into said barrel for engagement with the heating unit and ultimate ignition and explosion.

6. A powder exploding apparatus, comprising, an inclined barrel having an open upper end, a heating unit within the barrel, an inclined trough having its lower end adjacent the open end of the barrel, a powder ball magazine having a discharge opening and an inclined runway leading to the discharge opening, said discharge opening being adjacent to but below the level of the upper end of the trough, a vertically reciprocatable elevator interposed between the upper end or the trough and said discharge opening for successively elevating and depositing powder balls passed through the discharge opening onto the trough along which the balls roll and drop into said barrel for engagement with the heating unit and ultimate ignition and explosion, and a gate carried by the elevator to closesaid discharge opening upon upward reciprocations oi the elevator.

'7. A powder exploding apparatus, comprising, an inclined barrel having an open upper end, a heating unit within the barrel, an inclined trough having its lower end adjacent the open end of the barrel, a powder ball magazine having a discharge opening and an inclined runway leading to the discharge opening, said discharge opening being adjacent to but below the level of the upper end of the trough, a vertically reciprocatable elevator interposed between the discharge opening and the upper end of the trough and below the level of the latter for successively receiving and transferring powder balls emitted through the discharge opening onto the trough along which the balls roll and drop into said barrel for engagement with the heating unit and ultimate ignition and explosion, and controlled, regulatable means for automatically reciprocating the elevator.

8. A powder exploding apparatus, comprising a support, an upwardly, forwardly inclined barre] mounted on the support and having an opening therein and a closed lower end, an electric heating unit within the closed lower end of the barrel a casing mounted on the support and housin operating mechanism including a battery, a: inclined trough having its lower end adjacent thi barrel opening, a powder ball magazine removably and replaceably mounted on and covering the casing, said magazine having an upper loading opening and a forward lower discharge opening with an inclined runway between said open- .ings, the magazine being adapted to be filled with lines of powder balls which successively gravitate along the inclined runway and through the lower discharge opening, a gate interposed between the' trough and said discharge opening, a gate operator connected with the gate for successively delivering powder balls passing through the discharge opening to said trough along which the powder balls roll and drop into said barrel opening for engagement with the heating unit and ultimate ignition and explosion, and an electrical control circuit including the battery, the gate operator and the heating unit and extending to a point remote from the support, there being a control switch in a remote portion of a circuit operable to cause energization of the heating unit and successive automatic operation of 10 the gate operator.

ALFRED GROTH. HENRY J. HANAUER. 

